The University Grants Commission (UGC) has taken a big step to make admission in open, distance and online courses more transparent and protect students from fraud. UGC is going to start a new enrollment process for Open and Distance Learning (ODL) and Online courses from this academic year 2024-25. Students wishing to get admission in ODL and online courses will first have to register on UGC’s Distance Education Bureau (UGC-DEB) web portal, deb.ugc.ac.in using their Academic Bank of Credit (ABC)-ID and create a unique DEB-ID.
The new rules for admission in ODL and online courses will come into effect from September 2024. The purpose of this change is to ensure that students take admission in a good institute recognized for ODL and online courses. This will bring transparency in the admission process.
What changed for the students?
To reduce the problems faced by students in open and distance learning (ODL) and online programs, UGC has made a new rule. This first of all includes mandatory DEB registration. Now students pursuing open, distance learning or online courses will have to create a unique identification number (DEB-ID) by visiting the UGC website. This identification number will be linked to their Academic Bank of Credit (ABC) ID. Once created, this DEB-ID will be valid for life. However, this unique ID will be required only for Indian students, foreign students do not need to create it.
What does UGC have to say to the institutions?
UGC has asked the institutes to follow this new admission process properly. The institutes have been advised to inform the new students about this change so that there is no problem.
Ban courses through distance, open and online mode
UGC has banned many courses from being pursued through open distance and online mode. This list issued by UGC includes engineering, medical, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and other paramedical courses, pharmacy, nursing, dental, architecture, law, agriculture, horticulture, hotel management, catering technology, culinary sciences, aircraft maintenance, visual arts and sports, aviation, yoga, tourism, hospitality management courses at UG and PG level. Apart from these, MPhir and PhD cannot be pursued through distance and online mode. For more details read this notice carefully-
Source (PTI) (NDTV) (HINDUSTANTIMES)